‘I’m done’: tear-filled exit says Serena Williams won’t be back

Serena Williams is unlikely to play another Australian Open after an emotional farewell from Melbourne Park following a changing-of-the-guard loss to Naomi Osaka.

An emotional Serena Williams abruptly ends her press conference following her semi-final loss to Naomi Osaka at the Australian Open Picture: AFP

Serena Williams looked at the patrons and waved. She placed a hand above her heart and paused. She took a misty-eyed glance around a joint she first visited as a teenager in 1998. She appeared ready to cry a Yarra River before putting her head down and hurrying away.

It was every inch the sort of farewell you’d give Rod Laver Arena if you doubted you were coming back. Her walk up the players tunnel was a slow, lonely, dejected, emotional and tearstained one.

Hooroo, guru. I don’t think Williams will be here again. She is 39 years of age. She’s out of the Australian Open. She lost 6-3 6-4 to Naomi Osaka in a comprehensive defeat that suggested Margaret Court’s record of 24 majors is safe, likely forever more.

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Osaka hit bigger than Williams. She served better than Williams. She was more ruthless and less error-prone than Williams. She was overpowering in the critical moments that Williams used to own. It was a demolition job.

Osaka reached the final by doing what no-one used to be able to do. She did a Serena on Serena before Williams burst into tears in her post-match press conference.

Were you nervous? “Um, I wouldn’t say I was nervous, no,” she said.

What was the difference in the match? “I would say the difference was errors,” she said.

“I made so many errors today. There were so many opportunities. I could have been up five love but I just made so many errors.”

Serena Williams waves as she walks off the court after losing against Japan's Naomi Osaka Picture: AFP

How’d you feel before the match? “I felt well,” she said. “Hitting the ball well. It was just, I don’t know. Made too many mistakes there. Easy mistakes.”

What was going through your head when you were leaving the court? The hand on the heart, the standing ovation, it all seemed poignant. “Um, I don’t know,” she said, voice wavering. “The Aussie crowd is so amazing. It was nice to see.”

Were you saying farewell? “Um, I don’t know. If I ever say farewell, I wouldn’t tell anyone,” she said with a trembling laugh.

What caused all the unforced errors? Her head went down. She took a deep breath. The waterworks started. “Um,” she crowed, “I don’t know. I’m done.” And she walked away.

I’m done. She was done with talking but remember those words in a broader context. This loss was so heavy it deeply affected her. Her dominance has officially been dashed.

She won’t keep playing unless she expects to win majors. The day had held so much promise.

Stefanos Tsitsipas’s gypsy footprints were still on RLA when Williams squeezed into her disco bodysuit and strode forth to take on Osaka and Margaret Court.

Tsitsipas had smoothed past Rafael Nadal the previous evening with the unflappable air and scruffy appearance of a Byron Bay hippy but Williams was always going to bristle with her more intimidating brands of American hustle and Miami heat.

Different strokes for different folks. She made a flying start to lead two-love and she was right, she could have led 5-0. But she became erratic and frustrated. Helpless. The end came quickly.

The end of the road for her in Australia, I imagine. From there? I think this will be her last year on tour. I think she’ll contest another Olympics and then take her final bow at the US Open.

Williams made 24 unforced errors, a whole set’s worth, while wearing a diamond-encrusted necklace saying QUEEN and earrings saying Ma. She pressed and then she pressed some more.

She pleaded with herself to find a way. C’mon! Puh-lease! She fought with heart and soul. She squealed and grunted and gesticulated. She wanted it so badly you could feel it in your own bones. C’mon. Puh-lease.

She’s been stuck on 23 majors for three years like a Test batsman bogged in the nervous nineties. The 23-year-old Osaka and 24-year-old Ash Barty aren’t going to get any worse.

Williams isn’t going to get any younger. She’s half-a-step slower than she used to be. She’s lost ten major finals and how she must be kicking herself now for those defeats.

Some of them have caused her fury. On Thursday she just looked sad and perhaps resigned to the inevitable. Not even she can last forever. Changing of the guard? Done.